Tesco Cafe - Out of Date Food

molerat

Today, Wednesday, I had the misfortune to need to go into the Tesco cafe in Inverness. My Grandaughter wanted some food so we got the £1.99 kiddies box.

When we got to the table we noticed that the sandwich we had picked up had "Tue" on the label so I went back to the counter and picked out another with "Tue" on it and found one with "Wed" marked. Took the others to the counter.

Half way through eating Grandaughter said "don't like these" about the crisps. I tasted one and it seemed a little soggy. I looked at the packet ..... best before 17 02 07 !! nearly 3 weeks out of date. I took it back to the counter and asked to see the manager. She came quite quickly (one plus point I suppose) and apologised and refunded the price of the crisps, stating that the staff check all the dates every evening. I went to CS and filled a complaint form so now waiting to hear back.

Just needed a vent as I usually avoid that particular cafe, now I remember why. :mad:

lemontart

sure envoiromental health would have something to say too.

Liz
xx

gyzmo

food can be sold past its best before date so long as it is fit for consumption and still as described. Sounds like they haven't bothered doing a stock check properly

3 weeks is pushing it though!

moonrakerz

Gyzmo is correct to say that food can be sold after its "best before date, but I would expect any reputable shop to remove it from the shelf, or advertise it as past date, at a reduced price. I often see chocolate sold like this.

Typical Tesco !

lemontart

http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/asksam/foodlabels/asksamlabellingrules/

here are the rules regarding dates.



I bought a sandwich and when I got home I realised that its ‘use by’ date was two days ago. What should I do?
Don’t eat the sandwich. You shouldn’t eat any food product that has passed its ‘use by’ date, because it might not be safe to eat. In fact, it’s illegal for shops to sell food after its ‘use by’ date.

You could take the sandwich back to the shop where you bought it and ask for an exchange or refund. Or you could contact the trading standards or environmental health service at your local authority. It is their responsibility to investigate if they think a shop is not obeying the law, and to take appropriate action. If you decide to contact your local authority, you may need to make a statement and give them the food product and packaging as evidence.

But remember that ‘use by’ dates are different to other dates you may see on food products. It’s not illegal for shops to sell food after its ‘best before’, ‘sell by’ or ‘display until’ date.



Liz

gyzmo

Watch out for eggs though - they cannot be sold 7 days prior to the use by date

ictmad

i know not really relevant but its a cafe in tesco,s but isnt run by tesco,s so u cant really blame tescos,

C_Ronaldo

the cafe may be a eurest one, if so id stay clear of them, they werent too good near penzance

uktim29

gyzmo wrote:

Watch out for eggs though - they cannot be sold 7 days prior to the use by date

They'd need a display until label in that case. I don't buy/eat eggs so haven't really looked. I would find it odd if they cannot be sold 7 days before their use by if it didn't have a display until label. Is there a link to this?

gyzmo

Its in the food labelling regs. Simple guidance for businesses can be found here
http://www.askcedric.org.uk/businesses.php?busid=230&listid=5&sec=11

look at 11.11.

The requirement to sell 7 days before sell by date is due to the risk of salmonella.